第27章

Markhamandthebaby，andgavethebabyanapple。Thiswasapleasure。Hehadsuchaheartywayabouthim。Heonhispartsawanordinaryfarmer’swifewithdustydress，unkempthair，andtiredface。Hedidnotknowexactlywheysheappealedtohim，buthetriedtocheerherup。

Thegrocerwasfamiliarwiththesebedraggledandwearywives。

Hewasaccustomedtoseethemsitforhoursinhisbigwoodenchairandnursetiredandfretfulchildren。Theirforlorn，aimless，patheticwanderingupanddownthestreetwasadailyoccurrence，andhadneverpossessedanyspecialmeaningtohim。

II

Inacottagearoundthecornerfromthegrocerystoretwomenandawomanwerefinishingadaintyluncheon。Thewomanwasdressedincool，whitegarments，andsheseemedtomakethedayoneofperfectcomfort。

ThehomeoftheHonorableMr。Hallwasbynomeansthecostliestinthetown，buthiswifemadeitthemostattractive。Hewasoneoftheleadinglawyersofthecountyandamanofcultureandprogressiveviews。HewasentertainingafriendwhohadlecturedthenightbeforeintheCongregationalchurch。

Theywerebynomeansinseriousdiscussion。Thetalkwasratherfrivolous。Hallhadtheabilitytocaricaturemenwithafewgesturesandattitudes，andwasgivingtohisEasternfriendsomedescriptionsoftheold-fashionedWesternlawyershehadmetinhispractice。Hewasveryamusing，andhisguestlaughedheartilyforatime。

ButsuddenlyHallbecameawarethatOtiswasnotlistening。Thenheperceivedthathewaspeeringoutofthewindowatsomeone，andthatonhisfacealookofbittersadnesswasfalling。

Hallstopped。“Whatdoyousee，Otis？“

Otisreplied，“Iseeaforlorn，wearywoman。“

Mrs。Hallroseandwenttothewindow。Mrs。Markhamwaswalkingbythehouse，herbabyinherarms。Savageangerandweepingwereinhereyesandonherlips，andtherewashopelesstragedyinhershamblingwalkandweakback。

InthesilenceOtiswenton：“Isawthepoor，dejectedcreaturetwicethismorning。Icouldn’tforgether。“

“Whoisshe？“askedMrs。Hallverysoftly。

“HernameisMarkham；she’sSamMarkham’swife，“saidHall。

Theyoungwifeledthewayintothesittingroom，andthementookseatsandlittheircigars。HallwasmeditatingadiversionwhenOtisresumedsuddenly：

“Thatwomancametotowntodaytogetachange，tohavealittleplayspell，andshe’swanderingaroundlikeastarvedandwearycat。Iwonderifthereisawomaninthistownwithsympathyenoughandcourageenoughtogooutandhelpthatwoman？Thesaloonkeepers，thepoliticians，andthegrocersmakeitpleasantfortheman-sopleasantthatheforgetshiswife。Butthewifeisleftwithoutaword。“

Mrs。Hall’sworkdropped，andonherprettyfacewasalookofpain。Theman’sharshwordshadwoundedher-andwakenedher。

Shetookupherhatandhurriedoutonthewalk。Themenlookedateachother，andthenthehusbandsaid：

“It’sgoingtobealittlesultryforthemenaroundthesediggings。

Supposewegooutforawalk。“

Deliafeltahandonherarmasshestoodatthecorner。“Youlooktired，Mrs。Markham；won’tyoucomeinalittlewhile？I’mMrs。

Hall。“

Mrs。Markhamturnedwithascowlonherfaceandabitingwordonhertongue，butsomethinginthesweet，roundlittlefaceoftheotherwomansilencedher，andherbrowsmoothedout。

“Thankyoukindly，butit’smosttimetogohome。I’mlookingferMr。Markhamnow。“

“Oh，comeinalittlewhile；thebabyiscrossandtriedout；pleasedo。“

Mrs。Markhamyieldedtothefriendlyvoice，andt~getherthetwowomenreachedthegatejustastwomenhurriedlyturnedtheothercorner。

“Letmerelieveyou，“saidMrs。Hall。

Themotherhesitated：“He’ssodusty。“

“Oh，thatwon’tmatter。Oh，whatabigfellowheis!Ihaven’tanyofmyown，“saidMrs。Hall，andalookpassedlikeanelectricsparkbetweenthetwowomen，andDeliawasherwillingguestfromthatmoment。

Theywentintothelittlesittingroom，sodaintyandlovelytothefarmer’swife，andasshesankintoaneasy-chairshewasfaintanddrowsywi

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